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Sebastien Le Toux's goal enough for Union win

Special to The News Journal
Published 8:17 p.m. ET March 15, 2014 | Updated 8:59 p.m. ET March 15, 2014

Union players celebrate a goal by Philadelphia forward Sebastien Le Toux during the first half of Saturday’s home opener with New England.(Photo: John Geliebter)

CHESTER, Pa. – It just wouldn't be a Union home opener if Sébastien Le Toux didn't show up to play.

Le Toux scored in the 31st minute to give Philadelphia its first win of the 2014 season at PPL Park on Saturday, a 1-0 decision over New England. Pulling off the one-goal win was a big confidence boost to the Union, who allowed a late goal against Portland in the season opener and struggled with closing out games last season.

Still, manager John Hackworth conceded he wanted to see his team put the game away with another goal instead of hanging on and hoping for stops at the end.

"The whole time [in the second half] I'm kind of urging us to get up and put them under pressure a little bit," he said. "But that's going to be the next step for us, to finish that off."

Le Toux's goal marks the third time he's scored in the four home openers he's been with the Union. He didn't score in 2011 but still managed to earn the assist on the game's only goal. Always nervous for the home openers, he admitted it was hard to fall asleep Friday night, but he wanted to put on a show for the anticipated sell-out crowd of 18,651.

His goal couldn't have happened without nifty footwork from Leo Fernandes, who wasn't a confirmed starter until a few minutes before the team hit the field for warm-ups.

Union captain Brian Carroll was a late scratch with flu-like symptoms, which meant Amobi Okugo had to take on the captain responsibilities while newcomer Maurice Edu slipped into the defensive midfield position. That made room for Fernandes who, in just his eighth Major League Soccer appearance, has proven he can make plays when given room in the open field.

Fernandes baited Revolution (0-2-0) defender Andrew Farrell into making a move, and Farrell bit hard, falling over himself and freeing up Fernandes to make a play to a crashing Le Toux. The goal felt like a long-time coming, as Philadelphia had taken six shots to New England's one at that point and was applying pressure in the final third.

"We had so many chances before that," Fernandes said. "When I saw Seba making the run, I was just trying to connect. Good thing he got there and put it away."

Another big moment for the Union (1-0-1, 4 points) came in the 38th minute. A defensive lapse allowed a wide-open Diego Fagundez to take a shot inside the 18. The game likely should have been tied, but Union keeper Zac MacMath sold out on the line and saved the shot with his leg.

Just as in the opener, Aaron Wheeler, Antoine Hoppenot and Danny Cruz came off the bench in the second half. Wheeler's substitution was slightly concerning, as he replaced center back Austin Berry, who went down hard in the opening minutes and came up clutching his shoulder. The worry was that Berry reinjured the shoulder he had surgery on in the offseason, but early reports said the injury was to his left leg.